“Evasive Maneuvers” is one of five new “Magic: The Gathering” decks from Wizards of the Coast’s “Commander (2013 Edition)” releasing today Nov. 1, 2013. This Bant deck’s commander Derevi, Empyrial Tactician gives you a strategic edge when it comes to combat, allowing you to untap your creatures and remain defensive when they deal combat damage to one of your opponents or tap down their other creatures so that your other rivals can finish them off.

Curse of Inertia, Curse of Predation, and Curse of the Forsaken will incentivize the other players to attack the person you’ve cursed instead of you. Fiend Hunter can help deal with a problematic creature one of your enemies may have while Darksteel Mutation will make their commander useless. An early Restore or Surveyor’s Scope will allow you to accelerate your mana production and Arcane Denial will stop a troublesome spell.

There’s a nod to graveyard hate with Angel of Finality, however the Bane of Progress may have a larger impact on the battlefield. You’ll be able to pull of some deviant tricks, stealing the best threats on the battlefield with Djinn of Infinite Deceits or Control Magic. Later on Karmic Guide can become a card advantage machine when paired with Roon of the Hidden Realm.

Some fantastic reprints are featured in “Evasive Maneuvers.” Lu Xun, Scholar General from “Portal: Three Kingdoms” is a creature with horsemanship that allows you to draw a card whenever it deals combat damage any of your foes. A sexy alternate art Rubinia Soulsinger can steal the best creature on the battlefield. Basalt Monolith hasn’t been printed since “Revised,” and the new art modern card frame will be the first time many players have seen this obscure artifact with black borders. There’s also the hilarious Borrowing 100,000 Arrows.

As with the four other “Commander (2013 Edition)” decks “Eternal Bargain,” “Mind Seize,” “Nature of the Beast,” and “Power Hungry” “Evasive Maneuvers” boasts an overwhelming amount of value for just $29.99.

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